Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-04-01
STEAMER AGROUND.
THE STEAMER SCOTIA FAST ON THE
LONG ISLAND COAST.
Intense Excitement of the Women and
ChiIdren-Liie Saving Crew tn the Res
cue-Passengers short of Nations
and Drinking Water.

NEW YORK, March 25.-The steamer
Scotia of the Cyprian line from Naples for
New York ran ashore on the Long Island
coast about IL miles from Island City at
4 o'clock this morning. She has about
900 Italian immigrants on board. Tugs
have been sent to her assistance.
The steamer at o'clock this evening
was lying easy in about two fathoms OF
water, 20 feet from the shore. The wind
and waves had abated and the weather
was fine, but she was working slowly in
through the pounding of the rising tide
The life-saving crew had landed 100 pas
sengers on the beach when orders were
given late in the afternoon to keep the
passengers on board until the arrival of
barges from New York for their reception.
This caused considerable grumbling as
the people on the vessel complain that
| they have had but little food for some
time past, while they have had to pay for
water to drink. The wrecking tug /. j.
Merritt arrived at about 4:30 p. m and
anchored near by ready to render
all necessary assistance. The passen-
gers on shore are being cared for to
night and they and those on board
will probably be taken to New York to-
morrow in barges. The vessel is
leaking and the pumps are kept contin.
ually at work, but it is thought she will
eventually be pulled off all right and her
cargo saved.
No statement has yet been made by the
captain or officers of the Scotia in regard
to her experiences during her rough voy
age of over 30 days. From other sources
| it is learned, however, that for nearly 20
days the steamer met series of storms,
huge waves dashing over her decks and at
times threatening to submerge her. Her
appearance gives unmistakable evidence
of hard usage. Her masts and rigging are
gone and her decks are in general dIsor-
der. Her machinery had been of little use
| for week This morning when Capt.
Ruffat, who had remained on the bridge
most of the time during the past week,
found that the vessel was near the beach
and that the storm did not abate, he deter
mined to beach her, and in order to keep
her more steady he ordered the masts cut
away.
The fact that the steamer went ashore
with her head northeast, directly opposite
to her proper course, would indicate that
she had been tossing about with but slight
control When she struck the beach the
tremor and awakening thud of the shock
was felt by the passengers and a scene of
ineypressible excitement prevailed. The
women and children screamed and prayed
aloud while stalwart men ran about shout
ing and gestculating wildly. 1t was
hardly daybre when the vessel ground
ed and those on board could not dis
tinguish land ahead and it was not until
the life saving crew reached the ship that
the captain knew just where he was.
There are from 100 to l20U people on
board. During much of the stormy wealth
er it has been necessary to keep
the poor emigrants packed like sar-
dimes in the steeraRe where they
were subjected to great sufferings.
AS the steamer tossed they were
pitched out of their berths and thrown
from side to side. Several men and wo-
men are suffering from fractured limbs or
serious bruises, while the bodies of many
children are black and blue. 1t is provi-
dental that the storm died down when It
did this morning or few would have reach
ed land to tell the story of their expert
ences.
NEW YORK, March 27.-The condition
of the stranded steamer Scotia was not
much changed to-day and she is in no dan
ger unless severe storm comes up All OF
the 1872 passengers on the vessel have
been brought up to the city. A wild scene
followed their arrival. The half-famished
passengers rushed pell nell into the 70
tunda crying for bread. The women ant
children were trampled under foot auC
pandemonum prevailed for an hour
Loaves of bread were tossed into the Grove
and some times a dozen men were fightin!
, for one loaf. Finally all were fed, the wo
men and children being given littl
milk and beer with their bread. Some o
the Scotia's passengers claim they wer
, starved during the whole voyage, other
. charge the captain ,of the steamer will
brutality and say he was drunk. Thes'
, charges lack confirmation.